Month: February 2016

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching us in Vancouver, and Cupid is no doubt getting ready for this holiday by polishing his trusty bow and arrow. With all the cotton-candy pink, bright red, and heart shaped boxes of chocolate, doesn’t it induce a craving inside of you that can only be satisfied by copious amounts of sugary sweets and rich, sweet desserts? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top 12 places here in Vancouver to indulge that sweet tooth. Whether you’re spending the day with a loved one, or just finding an excuse to delight in a dessert (after all, you deserve a treat!), then look no further.

A classic high-tea experience is what you’ll find at this quaint establishment, with shiny china tea cups and cloth napkins to charm you out of your fancy socks. For high-tea, you will receive a three tier tray of beautiful goodies, loaded with scones, sweets, tiny sandwiches, and of course, tea. From tangy tarts to beautiful pastries and everything in-between, this delightfully elegant experience is perfect for a leisurely afternoon. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are also available, as well as take-home orders made in advance. Don’t forget to wear your pearls!

Must Try: Dark chocolate pecan cake with milk chocolate chantilly. It looks decadent and almost too pretty to eat, but it’s worth every bite.

With seasonal treats such as candied chestnut lattes and chai apple cider, this cafe has easily built itself a sweet reputation (pun intended). Pick up a small batch of chocolates here, with prices running for individual pieces ($1.95) to a large box ($33.95), and everything in between! They use ingredients such as Tahitian vanilla, Quebec maple syrup, and the finest chocolate to craft these treats for you. If chocolate isn’t your thing, then take a nibble at one of their colorful macarons.

Must Try: The chocolate chip brown sugar macaron is a must, as is the cassis flavored one (a sweet, red liquer flavor with blackcurrants). Both pack a pleasant punch in terms of flavor.

A classic go-to for the city’s best waffles! You can choose between 2 types of waffles to start off with: brussels waffles (light and crispy waffles), or liege waffles (sweet and fluffy). After that, you have a hard decision to make. You can choose between 9 different flavors, with classic ones such as fresh strawberries and fluffy whipped cream, or branch out and try more decadent ones such as their orange mousse flavor (fresh orange pieces and dark belgian chocolate mousse.

Must Try: Their Bresilienne waffle (a Liege waffle with creamy vanilla ice cream, whipped cream peaks, hazelnut crumble, and a dash of caramel sauce) is to die for! It looks as good as it tastes!

In the mood for a mouthwatering Japanese ice cream parfait? Not yet? Don’t worry, once you step foot into this quirky little cafe full of little cakes and parfaits, you’ll be dreaming about the next time you’re able to drop by again. With a colorful assortment of Japanese desserts to choose from, you’ll never be out of options. The towering ice cream parfaits were made for sharing with a loved one!

Must Try: Their popular green tea parfait is refreshingly light and sweet. Make sure to pick up a Japanese baked sweet from their counter before you leave to take home!

A beloved favourite in Vancouver since its launch in 2012, this popular and often talked about ice cream parlour features seasonal flavors that rotate throughout the year, perfected in small batches. An interesting fact about Earnest Ice Cream is that it is the first of its kind to pack pints of their delicious ice cream in glass jars that can be returned and reused. You can enjoy an ice cream cone at the store, and then take home a pint (or two!) of your favourite flavor once you’re finished. They also have delicious vegan options for those who go dairy-free!

Must Try: The London Fog flavor is one of their most well-known flavors, made with light Earl Grey tea and sweet vanilla. Often recommended! Another favourite is their Peanut Butter and Jam flavor, which features house-made berry jam with light peanut butter, which is the perfect sweet and salty combination for those who like to have it all.

Known as one of the top ten chocolatiers in North America, Beta5 has definitely lived up to its status in terms of their treats. Their products are visually pleasing as well as tummy pleasing. They fuse together art with chocolate, and their creations speak for themselves. From their unique cream puffs to their richly decorated chocolates, this is one place you can’t pass by if you’re a chocoholic. Beta5 has collaborated with local artists to create fixed gift boxes in which you can purchase dozens of their chocolates to give to your special Valentine.

Must Try: The Vietnamese Coffee cream puff is as unique as it sounds! A unique blend of coffee, blonde chocolate cremeux, and condensed milk chantilly, this white and purple treat is worth biting into. Of course, their signature chocolates bo12 unique pieces) are worth mentioning as well, with flavors such as The Whole Cherry, Caramelized Banana, and Jasmine Tea.

The name Styo means “frozen yogurt in style”, and with this dessert place, you’d be hard pressed to find a treat that doesn’t suit your style and taste. Their towering swirls of frozen yogurt are decorated with sweet syrups and topped off with a crunchy cookie straw. Their frozen yogurt boasts colorful swirls of the creamy treat and have unique toppings that make the frozen treat one of a kind.

Creme brulee and lattes, oh my! CrackleCreme specializes in this popular custard and caramel treat, with liquor based ones as well as vegan options! It’s a unique twist on this classic treat, with extraordinary flavors such as bourbon butterscotch, dulce de leche, and even frosted flakes cereal. If you’re looking for a familiar dessert, but with amped up flavors, then Cracklecreme is your perfect after-dinner stop! If you’d prefer to have your dessert at home, Cracklecreme also offers their creme brulee in take-home mason jars, so you can enjoy their treats on your very own couch.

Must Try: Their creamy vanilla latte pairs perfectly with their vegan pina colada creme brulee. A hint of sweetness and tangy tartness from the pineapple makes these two a match made in confection heaven!

The first thing you notice when you step foot inside Soirette Macarons & Tea is their bright display of colorful meringue-based macarons. They promise that their macarons are “wonderful little bites of airiness and flavor”, just as they should be! Their bright, delicate flavors and crunchy shells make them a delight to share with a loved one. Get a box of them in a beautifully decorated white and powder blue box, and attempt to guess each of its wonderful flavors as you devour each one. Don’t forget to sit back and relax with a cup of their herbal tea while you nibble each vibrant treat.

Must Try: Their seasonal flavors are interesting and intriguing at the same time. For a sweet tooth, you must try the Blackberry and Pear macaron (a lovely raspberry colored macaron with splashes of yellow across the top), which is refreshing and tangy at the same time. Another must-try is their Santa’s Milk & Cookies flavor (a white macaron with little chocolate “chips” on top), which is every bit as indulgent and rich as the name suggests.

The doughy confections you get from this charming little shop are simple, but worth every bite. The store opened in June 2012, after years of perfecting their simply-made, delightful dessert rings. Often noted as one of the best doughnut places around Vancouver, Lucky’s Doughnuts at 49th Parallel offers a wide range of flavors that change frequently, so you can experience as many new flavors as possible! Their doughy works of art are nothing to be sneezed at, with each one looking more extraordinary and delicious than the next. A must-try for any doughnut lover!

Must Try: The PB&J Remix is the most unique of the bunch! A square doughnut (yes, a square doughnut) filled with creamy peanut butter in all four corners, topped off with a tantalizing blueberry glaze, and sprinkled with crunchy, crushed peanuts! The doughnut itself is worthy of a picture or two. If you’ve got an Elvis lover in you, you’ll go nuts for the Memphis Flash doughnut, a stick doughnut named after Elvis’ favourite snack (supposedly). A peanut butter pastry cream filled stick doughnut topped with Nutella and pieces of caramelized banana. You “can’t help falling in love” with this one!

Everyone needs to experience the joy of dipping cakes, pretzels, fruit, and cheese into mouthwatering melted chocolate over a burning candle at least once in their lives, and what better time than Valentine’s Day to give it a spin? You can choose your own personal-sized cheese pot or chocolate pot (56% dark chocolate or milk chocolate) to dip your fruit and cakes into. The chocolate fondue set comes with cubed fruits, tea cookies, and an assortment of pastry items. The cheese fondue comes with seasonal fruits as well, veggies and baked potatoes, and artisan French bread and assorted pastries.

Must Try: The fondue experience is not one to be missed! Although by itself, the cheese and chocolate fondue pots are mouthwateringly delicious, you have the option of getting a chocolate fondue add-on, which happens to be mini ice cream truffles! You can order 6 or 12 ice cream truffles with toppings to dip into the chocolate, which will harden over the ice cream into a perfect treat.

With cupcakes this amazing, you’ll want your loved one to take a bite as well! This cupcake store looks good enough to eat! A pastel hued, retro-styled Vancouver cupcake shop that churns out custom cakes, wedding cakes, and of course, cupcakes; this sweet stop is sure to satisfy your cravings for this delightful dessert. Their enormous cupcakes are crafted with real buttercream that melts in your mouth, the softest and fluffiest cake base, and the most picture worthy toppings as far as confections go. Bite into one of the best cupcakes Vancouver has to offer and I guarantee your sweet tooth will thank you!

Must Try: The tiramisu cupcake is made of vanilla coffee marble cake with cocoa powder dusted on top of their cream cheese peaks. It’s like a vanilla latte in a cupcake, full of intense flavor and creamy richness. Just one bite, and you’ll fall in love.

Now that we’ve got the dessert part of Valentine’s Day figured out for you, all you have to do make the hard decision of picking your favourite!